A very Happy Christmas to one and all!
Monday, 24 December 2012
Monday, 10 December 2012
Virgin Extension
Yesterday, the 9th of December, saw the introduction of the new Winter Timetable and should have seen the start of a new era on the West Coast Main Line, as First Group took over from Virgin. As we all know, that all went horribly wrong in October, leaving the line in limbo since then.
Virgin were asked to continue to run the WCML while the various reviews into the debacle were completed, and a new bidding process was started. However, with days to go before the end of the franchise period, nothing had been agreed. Directly Operated Railways had long since abandoned any idea of taking over the line (as happened on the ECML), leaving Virgin holding all the cards.
Last week though, agreement was finally reached on a deal which will see Virgin in the driving seat for another 23 months. A new bidding process will begin following the completion of two reviews, with the winner of that competition beginning their tenure on 9th November 2014.
Virgin were asked to continue to run the WCML while the various reviews into the debacle were completed, and a new bidding process was started. However, with days to go before the end of the franchise period, nothing had been agreed. Directly Operated Railways had long since abandoned any idea of taking over the line (as happened on the ECML), leaving Virgin holding all the cards.
Last week though, agreement was finally reached on a deal which will see Virgin in the driving seat for another 23 months. A new bidding process will begin following the completion of two reviews, with the winner of that competition beginning their tenure on 9th November 2014.
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